Rim for watchcases



Feb. 19, 1952 A. PRETRE RIM FOR WATCHCASES Filed Feb. 28, 1949 Armand 726176 Jmwhror A++urne7 Patented Feb. 19, 1952 RIM FOR WATCHCASES Armand Prtre, Geneva, Switzerland, assignor to Montres Rolex S. A. (Rolex Watch Co. Ltd.), a corporation of Switzerland Application February 28, 1949, Serial No. 78,707 In Switzerland March 15, 1948 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a rim for watch cases. The rim, or bezel, object of the invention is characterized by the following featuresi it carries an ornamental annular band or ring which is fitted or snapped tightly onto the rim by means of a friction catch or clamping joint, having substantially the shape of a dovetail; an annular groove is provided in the lower face of the ring, opposite the upper face of an outer flange-like extension of the rim, said groove giving radial elasticity to the ring.

Other features of this invention shall appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, which illustrate two forms of the invention, without limiting its scope.

Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional elevation of a portion of the rim carrying an ornamental ring.

Fig. 2 shows an alternative method of mounting the ring onto the rim.

Referring to Fig. l, l designates the rim or bezel, and 2 designates the ornamental ring. The rim I is provided with a flange or shoulder Iafor receiving and supporting the ring 2, and a face lb which is slightly inclined from the axis of the rim and therefore slightly conical, to form with the upper face of flange la an angle of less than 90 degrees. Inner wall 2b of the ring 2 is also, at its lower portion, inclined from the axis of the ring, and slightly conical, to correspond substantially with wall lb of the rim. The lower face or wall 2a of the ring, which faces the upper face or wall of flange or shoulder la, is provided with an annular groove 3, which gives to the ring some degree of radial elasticity or give. The ring 2 is mounted and snaps over the rim by slippage under some pressure; faces lb of the rim and 2b of the ring form tight clamping or catch-joint and are held in place by the half-dovetail thus formed as well as by the resiliency of the circular arm 20 of the ring, between groove 3 and face 2b. The radial resiliency of the ring, resulting from groove 3, permits mounting on the rim rings possessing wider limits of tolerance or accuracy than would be required if the rings were solid and grooveless. This invention permits the substitution of a ring 2 for another without any fitting work; it allows the watchmaker to mount the ring after the watch has been assembled and eliminates the risks of such deterioration of the ring as can always occur during the assemblage of the watch.

The ring may also be provided with a band made of material more resilient than the ring, such as the band I, shown on Fig. 1, which bears on the inside face of the groove 3, and the purpose of which is to strengthen arm 2c while increasing its resiliency. The band I may take the form of a coil spring wound around arm 20 a suitable number of turns.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 2, the rim or bezel, designated at 4, is provided with a flange or shoulder 40, which, in turn, is provided at 4a with an outer upper raised edge, having a slightly conical inner face 4b, the purpose of which is to form a catch for clamping the ring 5 onto rim 4, by forming with the upper face of flange an angle of less than 90. The outer face 5a of the ring is also conical to correspond substantially to face 4b. The annular groove in ring 5 is shown at 6.

The two methods of clamping the ring to the rim illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 may also be combined.

The ornamental ring 2 or 5 may be made of precious metal; it may also be bejewelled.

I claim:

1. In a watch case, a rim having an outer protruding shoulder, an ornamental ring having radial elasticity and adapted to fit tightly onto said rim by means of a catch-joint, the lower face of said ring resting at least in part onto the upper face of said shoulder and being provided with an annular groove opposite said upper face, said groove defining in said ring two arms, one of which at least has a radial resiliency adapted to form a tight catch-joint with said rim.

2. In a watch case, a rim having an outer protruding shoulder, an ornamental ring having radial elasticity and adapted to fit tightly onto said rim by means of a catch-joint, the lower face of said ring resting at least in part onto the upper face of said shoulder and being provided with an annular groove opposite said upper face, the inner face of said groove being provided with an annular band having a greater ARMANI) PRETRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 6,454 Switzerland Apr. 26, 1893 207,376 Switzerland Feb. 1, 1940 Great Britain Aug. 11, 1932 

